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Applying for theory...suggestions?/Engineering?

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 11:01 am
by PathIntegrals92
Hi Everyone,
First I wanted to say that I looked through application profiles from 2011-2014 to find people with similar stats as mine who have been able to get admitted to theory programs ( I don't really care if it's top 10 or not).

physics gpa ( including required math courses for major) 3.544 not including that would make it 3.5ish.
physics gre 700 52% (Sep 2014)

I have done well in many advanced physics courses (A, A-), and never got lower than a B. The reason for B+/B grades is because I didn't do so well on time-pressured exams I am working on improving that by spending lots of time solving physics problem etc.

I know my stats are not great, but I know that it is possible to do HEP-TH with these stats somewhere.

I have done two projects in HEP-Th ( no publications) and my profs were very happy with my work and I believe they would write excellent rec letters.

I don't really know if "safeties" exist with my stat because I feel like it could really go either way also since it's HEP-TH. In fact, I am also applying to engineering programs for masters.

Although my main focus is to do HEP-TH, I am keeping my options very open for applications! HEP-EX , CME, Quantum Information/Computing.

My list includes:
U Toronto (requires B+ average, No GRES) this would be competitive because I am international applicant(American)
Drexel University (lower match?)
UC Irvine (upper match?)
UC Davis (a reach)

Does anyone have other suggestions? I came up with this list after combing through past results and looking through faculty/research profiles. there's a student from my college with similar stats who got accepted to UC-Davies for Cosmology theory! However, that was three years ago and I am positive it's even more competitive now.

The reason I want to go to graduate school is because I loved my research experience and they were in HEP-TH. I am open to other options, but my statement will definitely reflect I love HEP-Th no matter which other field I indicate interest in. It's hard to change the statement to make me seem like I didn't like HEP-TH haha.

I love research and want a research oriented job in the future. Comp sci is sort of appealing to me too. Especially areas like quantum computing/information. If I apply for engineering masters, is it possible to work in this area from the engineering side too?


Thanks for any advice or input!

Re: Applying for theory...suggestions?/Engineering?

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:02 pm
by zhuk
I think those stats are within striking range for UCI ( average GRE 57%)
Davis doesn't require PGRE but recommends it, score 62% is their "competitive" score.
I personally heard from a professor that for domestic students they can look over a missing PGRE if other parts of application look good: research, pubs etc

But again that was for experiment, may be a lot tougher for theory

Re: Applying for theory...suggestions?/Engineering?

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 2:38 pm
by bfollinprm
It's correct to say we don't weight the PGRE as highly as some other schools here at Davis. We get away with this because we don't make the preliminary exams (called quals elsewhere) a very arduous task for students willing to put in effort.

Re: Applying for theory...suggestions?/Engineering?

Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:40 pm
by PathIntegrals92
Thanks for the replies! For now, I'll keep these schools on my list! I'm waiting for my advisor's suggestions too.

Re: Applying for theory...suggestions?/Engineering?

Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:49 pm
by Catria
Oregon, UNM? (These are HEP-EX-based suggestions)